Instrlating-coupling for fence-wires



J. L. MARTIN.

INSULATING COUPLING FOR FENCE WIRES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE22. 1917.

1,304,342 Patented May 20, 1919.

1 Q v'HIMQ W I J m a u I I I "Z! JAMES LUTHER IABITIIl', OF YATES CENTER, KANSAS.

INSULATING-COUPLING, FOR FENCE-WIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed June a2, 1917. Serial no. 1126,3139.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, James L. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yates Center, in the county of Woodson, State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Insulating-Coupling for Fenceires and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved insulating coupling for fence wires, and an object of the invention is to provide a sinnple and efficient and practical-device of this kind, which is exceedingly inexpensive to manufacture, and may be sold at a reasonable profit.

It has been found that large numbers of live stock, such as cattle and the like, have been killed or-electrocuted for the past years by the lightning discharges that are .con-

ducted along the wires of a fence. It has been further noticed that such live stock have encountered the discharge and been killed at considerable distance from where the lightning first struck the wires. Fur thermore, owing to such conditions, live stock insurance is quite expensive.

Therefore, one of theobjects of the present invention is the provision of an insulating coupling or a plurality thereof arranged at intervals, and connecting medium short sections of the fence wire, thereby acting as means for permanently interrupting electrical discharges from lightning, whereby the live stock is guarded and prevented from being killed from such discharges.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind, the employment of which, at intervals, in fence wires, will save several times the cost of the. installa-tion thereof, by lessening the destruction to the live stock.

A further object of the invention is the production of an improved device of this kind, which when universally employed, will greatly reduce the insurance rates on live stock, and hence, the amount'of reduction on such rates may be used to offset the cost of the installation ofthe device. 1

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this kind consisting of a body constructed of glass or other ma terial, and provided with connectors for joining the adjacent ends of the fence wire sections sequentially, whereby a substantially permanent interruption of the electrical discharges may. be accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to rovide means for anchoring the connectors mthe body,.so"asto prevent their disconnection incidenttothe stretching of the fence wires, and which anchorage may be accomplishedin several ways, as illustrated in the drawings clearly.

In practical fields, the details of construction may necessitate alterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention. comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings andclaimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in section 'of the improved insulating coupling on an enlarged scale, connecting two wires,. fence or electrical conductor wires,

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of fence wire sections, showing the sections sequentially joined by the insulating couplers'ar ranged at intervals.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through another form of insulating coupling.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through another modified form or coupling. f

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the rings 12.

Referrin more especially to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the insulating coupling, and which may be any'suitable size and shape, preferably elliptical or egg shaped, and may be constructed of any su t able insulating material, preferably glass or the like. At the, time of constructing the body, in fact molding or otherwise 'constructing the same, the end parts of the connectors are embedded in the body, whereby Hof the connectorsjmay extend axially'from opand constructed in accordance with the invention.

of the sections forming loops 6, and twisttions, each connector comprising a single ing the extremities of the adjacent ends of length of wire bent substantially midway the sections about the bodies of the sections, upon itself to form aloop, the adjacent end as shown at 7. The electrical discharges portions of thewire being twisted together 5 from lightning, as will be noted, are suband having their twisted portions embedded stantially permanently interrupted by the in one end of said insulating body, the exbody 1, owing to there being no electrical tremities of said end portionsbeyond their connection between the embedded ends of twisted unions being curved laterally in opthe connectors. The end portions of the positc directions forming hooks, and a pair arms of each connector are provided with of round rings spaced from each other on abrupt bends 8, whereby the extremities '9 opposite sides of the twisted portions and of the ends extend in directions substantially embedded in said insulating body, corretoward the loop 3. These bends and the dissponding hooks of said connectors extending positions of the extremities 9, insure secure throu h one of the rings in position, whereanchoring of the connectors. 1 by s ould the insulating body become In Fig. 3, the opposite arms or sides of the broken, the rings will .hold the connectors connectors, where they are embedded in the joined and prevent the fence wire sections body 1, are twisted together several times, from sagging. a

as shown at 10, and have their extremities 2. In a coupling of the kind set forth, the 11 curving laterally and substantially tocombination with a pair of looped connec- 6 ward the loops 3. Upon observing Figs. 3 tors in spaced alinement and adapted for and 4, it is to 'be noted that the extremities connection tothe ends of fence wire sections ll of one connector'are disposed at right anrespectively, the adjacent ends of said congles to thecorresponding extremities of the nector's. each having a pair of hooks curved other connector. However, in Fig. 5, this laterally n opposite directions, the 'hooks right angle arrangement of the extremities of one pair corresponding in'position with is eliminated. Furthermore, in Fig. '5, when the hooks of the opposite pair, whereby a the body is molded or otherwise constructed, pair of parallel spaced rings may be posirings 12 are also embedded in the body, and tioned so that the hooks may extend therein such wise that the extremities 11 of the through spaced from the wall of the rings, sides of the connector extend-therethrough, with the shanks of the connectors between but out of contact with and insulated from the rings; of an insulating body, in which the rings by the body. By the position of the adjacent pairs of hooks and the shanks the rings, the connectors are prevented from of the connectors are embedded, and a pair entirely separating, should the glass or other of spaced rings of like diameters embedded body become broken, by reason of the fact in the body on opposite sides of and spaced that the extremities 11 will hook into en-' from the shanks of said connectors, wheregagement with the rings. Furthermore, the by the-oppositely. extending lateral hooks rings act as a reinforcement for the insulatare positioned through the rings.

ing body. In testimony. whereof I have signed my 40 The invention having been set forth, what name to this specification in the presence of is claimed as new and useful is:- two subscribin witnesses.

1. In an insulating coupling for fence JA ES LUTHER MARTIN. wire sections, an insulating body, looped Witnesses: connectors adapted for looped connections. W. DEPEW, with the adjacent ends of fence wire sec-. v R. H. TUMBLEOD. 

